SLAP Tears – Labral Tears of the Shoulder
The shoulder joint is surrounded by a ring of flexible connective tissue, known as a labrum. The biceps muscle has an attachment directly into the labrum and this is often a point where injuries occur. A tear of the labrum can occur in many locations, however the most common is at the point where the biceps tendon attaches to the labrum. Usually, this tear follows a typical pattern and is referred to as a superior labrum tear, anterior to posterior (SLAP tear).
Rotator Cuff Tears
The rotator cuff is a group of four small muscles that surround the shoulder joint. They play a primary role in supporting, controlling and creating rotational movements of the shoulder. Rotator cuff tears are common injuries and can occur in any of the four muscles, usually at their weakest point, which is the junction between the muscle and tendinous tissue.
AC Joint Sprains (Separated Shoulder)
The AC (Acromio-clavicular) joint is a thick fibrous joint that connects the top of the shoulder blade to the outer end of the collarbone. The joint is required to be strong and supportive and is the primary way in which weight bearing forces are transferred from the upper limb to the rest of the skeleton.
The primary mechanism that will cause this joint and its ligaments to be injured is a force that separates the shoulder away from the collarbone, usually in a downwards direction.
